WASHING LAUNDRY TO RAISE SCHOOL FEES

MPAKA – Some destitute pupils have resorted to charging E50 to wash a sizeable load of dirty laundry, just so they can go back to school.

About 60 pupils owing school fees at three high schools under Malindza still have hopes of returning to the classroom, but they need to work extra hard for it. The pupils were enrolled in different classes at Malindza High, Mpaka High and Ntandweni High last year. They have not been attending lessons since schools opened last week Tuesday due to owed fees. Twins Lerato and Lusizo Mbatha were supposed to be in Form II at Ntandweni High, but they both owe last year’s school fees in Form I. Lerato has resorted to washing clothes for community members, charging E50 per washing basket. She narrated that sometimes, she washed three washing baskets per day from different households. If Lerato would wash at least three loads within a 30-day period, she would amass E4 500. Her brother Lusizo also helps in blockyards around the Ntandweni community and sometimes earns E50 per day, which equates to E1 400 per month.

Fees

Each child owes school fees of  E5 690. The twins live with their mother, Nelisiwe Nkambule, who is unemployed. Nkambule said she was frustrated and depressed due to the fact that her children were not attending school as they owed last year’s school fees. She urged members of the public and government to assist with the payment of the school fees as her children were losing out. “It hurts to see other children in the morning walking to their respective schools while mine remain at home. I have been praying that God hears my cries and my children return to school,” she said. Anele Khoza is supposed to be in Form II at Mpaka High and lives with his grandmother. He also owes school fees of E5 400. “I am now employed as a herdboy to raise the money I owe at school. It is depressing because I’m missing out on lessons while trying to raise the money,” he said in an interview that was conducted in the presence of his grandmother. He has been promised to earn E1500.

According to Gcebile Gwebu, the mother of Noncedo Mdluli, her daughter owes about E7 760 for last year’s Junior Certificate (JC) examination fee and school fees at Mpaka High. Gwebu said her daughter sat the JC examination last year and she obtained a Second Class pass. She shared that her daughter had been isolating members of her family and was always found seated alone, raising eyebrows that she might be compelled by the situation at home not to return to school.   Gwebu said she owed E1 200 for the exam and E6 550 for school fees. She appealed to members of the public and the business community, including non-governmental organisations, to assist in the payment of the owed money, so that her daughter could continue to pursue her academic prospects.She said the father of her daughter left to look for greener pastures in South Africa and did not return.

The mother said she was unemployed and survived through working as a domestic worker for community members under Sulutane area. Dvokodvweni Indvuna Yenkhundla Sabelo ‘Coca Cola’ Fakudze said according to statistics, he had over 60 children who were not attending school due to owing school fees. Fakudze appealed to government to intervene in addressing this predicament as some of the vulnerable children might resort to committing suicide due to frustration and depression. The indvuna, who is also the school committee chairperson at Mpaka High, further urged the corporate community to also assist children facing the same situation as part of their corporate social initiatives. “It is unfortunate that lives are lost when the children resort to committing suicide due to that they were not continuing with their academics. I would like to urge members of the public to extend a helping hand, so that the child can pursue her future goals. I can be contacted at 7614 2004,” he said.

SCHOOLS NEED MONEY TO FUNCTION - HEAD TEACHER

SITEKI – A head teacher in one of the schools owed school fees described the matter as a sensitive one on the basis that schools need money to function irrespective of the situation faced by the pupils.

The head teacher, who asked not to be named, said schools provided stationery and expensive textbooks to the learners, despite the pupils’ backgrounds. The administrator said he was afraid to say as head teachers, they would allow negotiations of payment plans with parents because this would open a door for everyone to come up with excuses. He said the issue of school fees was a sensitive one as primarily; schools suffered in their operations due to insufficient funds to run them.  “If not the parent, then who is supposed to pay because schools use the funds to pay for administration costs and support staff, to mention a few. I believe once government increases the OVC grants, pupils will not be sent home for owing school fees,” said the head teacher.

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